NO
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
3-day tour to Masai Mara to experience the Great Migration
It was a most memorable safari to see the great migration in the Masai Mara--beyond all expectations!
The tent accommodation was basic, but was adequate for the a 2-night stay. Food was basic but enjoyable. No problems there.
George, the driver, who drove the group I joined to the park, knew the park well and showed us some amazing scenes of wild life.
But he has to learn to let the passengers enjoy the game and not drive off from a scene when he felt like.
Robert, my contact person, did an excellent job in setting up the tour up for me.
But certain logistics were beyond his control--in particular, the transportation to and from the park.
Transportation problem started when when we set off from Nairobi. George had not been given the money to pay at the park and we waited a long time outside of Nairobi before the funds were brought to him.
On the way back from the park, another vehicle was supposed to pick my group up and take us to Nairobi. Again we waited for a couple of hours before the transportation materialized. On reaching Nairobi, the driver had great difficulty in finding the address to drop off a couple of passengers, so that best part of the evening was spent driving back and forth in Nairobi.
For me, Robert came to the rescue. And for that I am very grateful. He picked me up from the city centre and brought me to my destination.
A fantastic trip, but could have done without the transport hassle to and from the park.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Namib-Naukluft National Park by Andrew Thompson
The Namib desert is bleak and barren and vast, but also can be beautiful and surprisingly varied.
Plus there is some great wildlife here if you have a good local guide who knows where and how to find it.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A 1-night stop-over which was good, but may have more to offer
I spent 1 night at Waterberg Plateau Park, as part of a guided birding and wildlife watching tour of Namibia. To be honest we really only stayed here because it broke the journey from Etosha National Park back to Windhoek nicely. Also because of the limited time we had, we only scratched the surface of what the Park had to offer. For example we didn't have time to join one of the organised game drives on the plateau itself, which I understood is stocked with various animal species, including game that is scarce elsewhere in Namibia. However we still managed to find some memorable wildlife encounters.
The well-watered grass just in front of the chalets attracts some extremely tame wildlife, including the unbelievably cute Damara Dik-dik - a small species of antelope. Equally close when we arrived but a lot less cute were Warthog and Chacma Baboon. The Baboons in particular have a reputation for mischief, so my advice would be to keep your wits about you when they are about.
The park also yielded some excellent bird sightings, with a resident pair of Verreaux's (Black) Eagle on the impressive cliffs, and when we visited (at the end of the dry season), there were good numbers of sunbirds, weavers and the magnificent African Paradise Flycatchers. We were also entertained by a raucous gang of Green Wood-Hoopoes, plus Purple Rollers, Hornbills, Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters and many other species.
The park is situated at the base of some impressive red sandstone cliffs which dominate the landscape, and mark the edge of the plateau itself. At the time of our visit the arrival of the first rain showers had brought an emergence of butterflies, which made a real spectacle.
The accommodation chalets are situated some distance from the other facilities, which means a bit of a walk to the restaurant, which is not so much fun in the rain or at night. However if you are camping, then the campsite is more centrally sited. The chalet I stayed in was clean and perfectly acceptable, and the bed was comfortable, but don't expect any frills here. The bathroom was basic but functional and everything worked.
The service at the restaurant was typically laid back (i.e. slow) and the quality of the food was okay.
As with many of the other rest camps run by the NWR, allow plenty of time for checking out on your day of departure.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a once in a life time opportunity for me and I was not disappointed!
The wildlife was great, got the opportunity to see all that I was expecting to see. Our guide was terrific, don't think we could have had anyone better, thanks, Gilli! The weather was wonderful. The accommodations were great, food was very good, although accommodating my daughters food restrictions were not as well attended to as I would have hoped. Overall our safari experience was wonderful.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safaris and the landscape are very beautiful but the organisation is most of the time very bad
The safari's in Tanzania are really beautiful. And there is enough wildlife to spot. I had three joined safaris in every safari i met new and interesting people. The gids are well informed. Even through not every gids is a good chauffeur.
My only warning is the organisation. A lot of so told organisations are really just one guy with a computer and a telephone. And the drop you bij friends of them to fill up a car. That's not a big problem but there is no structure and organisation. So you have to ask every day multiple times with car you have to get and where you're going. Sometimes you find yourself getting in three day in three divergent cars and in every car other people.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Queen Elizabeth National Park by Gudrun Schwarz
Wildlife along the canal and the lakes simply amazing, the crater lakes are fantastic but vegetation in Kasenyi sector was very samy and we only saw Uganda kobs and water buffalos.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kibale National Park by Gudrun Schwarz
African rain forest at ist best, the chimpanzees were very easy to get along with.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great driver, very attentive and fun. Great vehicle for a safari
Organisation was good. Driver did not arrive on time but was a great tour guide. Prompt response regarding quotes
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sarah got us all set up, my husband and 2 kids. They are well organized and have a personal touch.
First Safari, Tanuga was very knowledgeable. They gave us 100% we felt comfortable and they thought of everything. A safari with kids(3,5) not easy but we rather enjoyed ourselves.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Enjoyed the tour thoroughly, good safari guide
Don't leave loose ends. Negotiate the whole trip beforehand including the trip to whichever airport you are flying out of. Make sure all the quoted camps/hotels are booked before you arrive.
Communications was good.